Rockies Owner Monfort: Organization Unprepared For Heavy Snowfall

Rockies employees borrowed shovels from the Broncos to ensure they had enough

Rockies Owner Dick Monfort yesterday admitted that the organization was "unprepared" to deal with the heavy snow accumulation on Monday night that forced the first game of a doubleheader versus the Mets to start two hours late, according to Jorge Castillo of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. The doubleheader originally was "scheduled as a split," but the delay forced the two teams to "play the second game immediately after the first." Monfort: "We didn’t think it would snow as much as it did." The "massive snow removal effort began when the Rockies grounds crew reported to the stadium" at 5:30am MT. Other Rockies employees "voluntarily joined throughout the day." They "included Monfort, coaches, and team mascot 'Dinger' -- in full costume." Mets GM Sandy Alderson also "lent a hand" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/17). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jared Diamond reports Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd "came down to help" the snow removal effort, as did Senior VP/Baseball Operations Bill Geivett. Monfort said that he "never asked his employees to come shovel." But by the time the effort "finally ended, nearly 150 people had helped out, either by shoveling snow or clearing the stands." The organization "borrowed" shovels from the Broncos to allow all employees present to help. Monfort: "Had we not had 100 or 150 people out there, we'd have never gotten it off" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/17).

SNOW SAGES: In Denver, Troy Renck notes the Rockies have "dealt with snow issues before." They have "played in frigid conditions, including the playoffs." But Monfort said that this situation was "unique." Monfort: "We have four games (with the Mets), and Wednesday has a chance of getting (postponed), so the best weather was supposed to be (Tuesday). I tried to come up with ideas to get the snow out of here, and they were (bad) ideas. So I grabbed a shovel, and the next thing I know it's noon." He added that the team "requested manpower help from a temp service they typically rely on, but most of those people failed to show up because of the wintry weather and poor driving conditions." The Rockies "provided free tickets to the second game to fans who attended the opener." Since the upper deck was "not shoveled, spectators were permitted to move to the lower bowl." The forecast is "unfavorable" for today's game. Monfort admitted that the Rockies "need a better plan than shovel-wielding employees" to ensure the game goes on (DENVER POST, 4/17).